The first production Ford Model T leaves the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Mich. It was the first car ever manufactured on an assembly line, with interchangeable parts. The auto industry was to become a major U.S. employer, accounting for as many as one of every eight to 10 jobs in the country .- Union Communication Services

Senate to vote today to undo labor union rule*Mar. 4, 2015| The Senate will vote Wednesday on a GOP-backed motion that would undo a controversial National Labor Relations Board rule that makes it easier for workers to hold union elections. Republicans are using the Congressional Review Act that allows lawmakers to undo regulation through a motion of disapproval, which needs a majority vote in both chambers. The motion can't be filibustered or amended, which will help it bypass Democratic opposition. If the bill gets to his desk, however, the White House says President Obama will veto it. Full story...* Update: The bill passed the Senate Wednesday in a 53 to 46 vote. The legislation now goes to the House where it is expected to pass. However, it doesn't appear the Senate has the two-thirds majority required to overrule a presidential veto.

Tribune Publishing is busy playing catch-upMar. 5, 2015| …TPUB’s purchase of Maryland and suburban Chicago properties have already netted $5 million in increased earnings; expect $10-12 million in added earnings this year, due to those buys. TPUB’s got a bit of cash for more acquisitions, and as I reported Monday (“Tribune in final bidding for U-T San Diego”), it’s hot on the trail of a ninth metro property, U-T San Diego, at a likely purchase price of $85 to 90 million. Full story…

Local members answer the call for IBT photo opMar. 5, 2015| Local 355 members employed in a wide variety of industries traveled Wednesday to Teamsters headquarters in Washington, DC, to photographically represent our union’s diverse membership for future use in Teamster publications. After greeting all with enthusiastic hand-shakes and words of gratitude, General President Jim Hoffa joined 27 Local 355 members from the airlines, food processing, carhaul, car rental, express, package, freight, food service, industrial trades, motion picture, newspaper, parking, public service, and warehouse industries. While the IBT staff photographers worked to get the best and the most shots of our members, we took our own photos to share with you in the next issue of our Local 355 newsletter.

Hearing dates set for Sysco/US Foods antitrust suitMar. 6, 2015| A federal judge set a May 5 start date for court hearings on the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit against the merger of the nation’s two largest food distributors. During a Wednesday hearing, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said he would consider the case from May 5-8 and would add as many as three days the following week, if needed. Judge Mehta isn't conducting a full-blown trial on the FTC's allegations, rather... Full story

One thousand Teamsters rally against WV legislature’s anti-worker agendaMar. 9, 2015| More than 6,000 workers rallied Saturday in front of the West Virginia Capitol, including a thousand Teamsters who came out to show their support and stand shoulder-to-shoulder in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in the labor movement. “The working people of West Virginia deserve better from our politicians, and we won’t sit back as out-of-state interests try to strip us of our bargaining rights, drive down our wages and weaken job protections,” Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall told the packed crowd. Full story…

RTW in Wisconsin is another step down the wrong road for working familiesMar. 10, 2015| "Wisconsin is now the 25th state to adopt right-to-work laws as politicians like Walker push forward the agenda of their right-wing task masters," Hoffa said Monday in an official statement. "The Koch brothers, through Americans for Prosperity and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have poured millions of dollars into states across the country to push right-to-work legislation. These corporate interests will not stop in Wisconsin – they continue to attack working families, moving from state to state. We must remain strong and fight them wherever right-to-work legislation is introduced." Read the full statement...

We demand justice for fired Sysco Teamsters!Mar. 19, 2015| Sysco Teamsters need our help today! Sysco managers fired 15 union supporters in Atlanta and fired three in Kansas City during recent successful Teamster organizing drives in their facilities. Join us as we demand justice by telling Sysco President and CEO William Delaney to reinstate these brave men and women and bargain fair first contracts now! Sign this letter today!

Teamsters organize another FedEx Freight terminalMar. 20, 2015| A group of 50 drivers at the FedEx Freight terminal in Stockton, Calif., on Tuesday, March 10th voted to join Teamsters Local 439… This is the fourth union victory since the Teamsters began their campaign to improve conditioned for workers at FedEx Freight and Con-Way. Beyond the organizing victories, the campaign has helped raise wages for all drivers at the two companies. Full story...

Sysco, US Foods seek disclosure of FTC witness identitiesMar. 23, 2015| The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) went head-to-head last week with Sysco Corp. and US Foods Inc. over whether to make public the names of the declarants relied on by the FTC in its preliminary injunction to block Sysco and US Foods’ merger. Sysco and US Foods filed a motion in a Washington, D.C. federal district court on March 6 asking the judge to publicize the names, which the FTC quickly opposed. Full story...

Tell your senators to protect pension benefits!Mar. 26, 2015| Vermont's Senator Bernie Sanders will be offering an amendment to the budget resolution bill that would protect the pensions of thousands of retirees in multiemployer pension plans. The Amendment allows the flexibility to honor a long-standing promise, particularly for fixed-income seniors that can least afford to have their financial security at risk, and to find other sources of revenue to shore up the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Please email your Senators today and ask them to support the Sanders Amendment should it come up for a vote.

Teamsters call for defeat of Fast Track and TPPMar. 31, 2015| Statement by General President Jim Hoffa: "The 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has for years been shrouded in mystery. But last [week], WikiLeaks gave U.S. workers a real gift when it pulled back the curtain on a portion of the proposed trade deal that shows what a boondoggle the agreement would be for big business. … the average worker is going to get screwed. The provisions will give corporations the ability to do an end-around on U.S. laws they don't like. How is that fair? What about the rights of the American people? What about democracy?…" Full story…